Aston Villa are reportedly ready to fend off any interest in key midfielder Douglas Luiz next month, with the Brazil international valued at more than £100 million amidst interest from Arsenal.
According to Football Insider, Aston Villa value Douglas Luiz as a £100 million player, but Unai Emery is “adamant’ that the club will reject “any offer” for him in the upcoming January transfer window, dealing a blow to Arsenal’s pursuit of the 25-year-old Brazilian international.
Luiz has been one of the most impressive players not only at Villa but in the Premier League this season. Under Unai Emery’s tutelage, the 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength, and he has now added goals to his game, with 13 arriving over the last 18 months. Having already scored six goals and assisting four times in 24 appearances this season, his overall impact remains crucial as ever.
The Brazilian midfielder has been linked with a switch to Arsenal over the past 18 months after three failed bids arrived from Emirates Stadium last summer. It’s recently been reported that the Gunners’ are hell-bent on snaring him from Villa Park but face a potential £100 million bill.
The north Londoners failed with a £25 million move in the summer of 2022, with Luiz then going on to sign a new contract until the summer of 2026 at Villa Park. The Villains believe their asking price is justified by recent deals for other established Premier League central midfielders that have exceeded the £100 million mark in the last summer, including Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo.
Indeed, the Lions’ are expected to actively resist any attempts to lure him away as they currently sit third in the league, which is a by-product of his fine form at the moment.
Luiz plays a pivotal role in controlling and dictating tempo for Unai Emery’s side, alongside more defensive-minded Boubacar Kamara in the engine room, with the double-pivot integral to the team’s success under Emery. Losing him would be a significant setback, with Emery reluctant to allow him to depart mid-season at any cost.
With Thomas Partey’s future up in the air and veteran Jorginho not necessarily viewed as a long-term solution, Arsenal are set to explore the possibility of bringing in a long-term solution and were seemingly willing to drop £80 million on Luiz.
However, they may not try their luck if they believe there is no change to be had, even if they make an offer in excess of £100 million, and will instead turn their attention to alternative options.
